Cambodian parliament makes NEC constitutionally independent [Will the NEC really become independent?]

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The National Assembly of Cambodia on Wednesday amended the Constitution to make the National Election Committee (NEC) a constitutionally mandated and independent body.

About 120 of the 123 lawmakers, who attended the session, unanimously adopted the amendment to the Constitution.

The inclusion of the NEC into the Constitution came after the July 22 agreement between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy, President of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), who agreed to end the opposition's 10-month boycott of the parliament in exchange for an overhaul of the electoral system and a power sharing within parliament.

"I have strong confidence that this amendment to the Constitution will help NEC to work independently to ensure free and fair elections and it will help prevent political crisis after elections in the future," CNRP lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang, chairman of the assembly's commission on human rights, complaints, and investigation, said at the assembly floor.

Pen Panha, lawmaker from ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), also chairman of the assembly's commission on legislation and justice, said the amendment to the Constitution was made in conformity with the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

"It will make the NEC implement its obligations independently and neutrally to ensure free and fair elections," he said.

Under the amended Constitution, the NEC will have independent budget for its operations, he said, adding that the body will have the composition of nine members--four will be chosen by the ruling party, four by parties having seats in parliament, and one by the approval from all parties holding seats in the parliament.

The term for the NEC members is five years.

The opposition CNRP's 55 lawmakers just ended their 10-month boycott of the parliament over last year's disputed election results in August after Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to the CNRP' s proposals for the reform of the NEC and a power sharing in the parliament.

During the boycott, the opposition had led many demonstrations and some of them had turned violence, leaving people dead and injured.